Running under Hyper-V

Jul 3, 2008 16:10 GMT  ·  By

Even though Microsoft is yet to officially breathe a single word on the matter, the virtualization capabilities of Windows 7 will also evolve in comparison to what is offered with Windows Vista today. Vista was the Redmond giant's first client for which virtualization was introduced into the End User License Agreement, and Windows 7 will take it one step further. The next iteration of the Windows client will feature a solution designed to permit end users to access remotely virtualized operating systems running on top of a hypervisor.

"As part of hosted desktop virtualization initiative, in Win7 we are building a platform with suite of products that enables remote connectivity to virtual desktops running under Hyper-V via thin or traditional clients. The products enables remote desktop and application publishing, provisioning and connecting to VMs via RDP and management which leverages SCVMM. The platform will also provide rich value-add opportunities for ISVs in virtualization space," Microsoft revealed.

The Redmond company is already offering management tools for the Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V for Windows Vista SP1, and it looks like an evolved platform based on the utilities will be featured as a default component in Windows 7. This because the package brings to the table Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in dubbed Hyper-V Manager which is designed to permit users to access Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V from Vista SP1. But also the Virtual Machine Connection set up to allow interactive sessions with a Hyper-V virtual machine from Vista SP1.

Microsoft has yet to clarify what the new virtualization platform being built into Windows 7 will offer, but its development falls under the lead of the Presentation and Hosted Desktop Virtualization team. "The PHDV team owns key technologies related to Microsoft's virtualization strategy. The PHDV technology area encompasses desktop and application virtualization in Hyper-V as well as classic Terminal Server. These product areas enable scalable, efficient, and seamless access to centralized desktop/applications from a wide range of client devices via the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)," the company stated.